Installing Debian-?

[ninadb]

Hi
I am a already a user of a linux distro.
A mini distro however "mulinux". So I know atleast the basics about Linux. I selected this mini distro as it can be installed on th hard disk (UMSDOS installation).
Now I am looking at a larger distro i.e. the commercial ones.
I have with me the Debian CD and hence thought to give it a try. I have never tried any major distro which has to be installed after repartitioning. I have concentrated on UMSDOS distros only.
My problem is as follows
I have a PC with the following config.
Pentium 100
16 mb RAM
4.3G Hard disk(Partitioned as C:-2.1G and D:2.2G) C:contains Win 95 free space 1.04 G and D: contains other software free space 700mb
1.44 Floppy Drive.
32x CDRom drive
14.4kbps Internal Modem
Is it possible to install on my D Drive with or without re partiotioning.? :confused: :confused:

[willk]

700Mb is getting pretty dinky...you would have to eliminate X at the very least.
Get all yer DOS stuff moved to c...dedicate d to linux.
I'd reccomend you install Mandrake or Red Hat if you are pretty new to this.
I am a Slackware fan myself..but I am a tinkerer...I like to fix what ain't broken.
Debian CAN be a ballbuster.

[bdl]

Originally posted by willk:
<STRONG>700Mb is getting pretty dinky...you would have to eliminate X at the very least.
Get all yer DOS stuff moved to c...dedicate d to linux.
I'd reccomend you install Mandrake or Red Hat if you are pretty new to this.
I am a Slackware fan myself..but I am a tinkerer...I like to fix what ain't broken.
Debian CAN be a ballbuster.</STRONG>

Oh cmon! Debian is no more difficult than Slackware, and in most respects it makes life easier on you. I am *NOT* trying to start a flame war here, please keep in mind I run Slackware and Debian on all my systems and love using both distros.
Ok, now, to solve the problem. What you'll want to do is one of the following:

1)Take a serious look at your system, and if you can, move as much data from the D: drive over to the C: drive. We'll need the free space to create an EXT2 and a swap partition. Please keep in mind this does not apply for applications that are actually installed on the D: drive, you'll have to uninstall and reinstall, you can't just move them. When installing Linux, delete the D: drive and create a new swap and EXT2 partition for the new distro. Use LILO to boot the system and choose between Linux and Windows at startup.

2)Download try BigSlack - it's a complete Slackware distribution that can be installed on UMSDOS, takes about 900mb. You can keep your current partition scheme, but you'll have to still clean out your D: drive to make way for the new distro.

3)Backup as much data as you can on your system, and completely wipe your drive and start over. Of course this means reinstalling Windows, so you'll have to have an install CD. Then you can install ANY distro you want to the free space on the drive. I'd recommend a partition scheme like this:

/dev/hda1: WINDOWS: FAT32: 1GB
/dev/hda5: swap: swap: 128mb
/dev/hda6: '/': EXT2: (remaining free space)

In this situation you'll install Windows first, creating and formatting the small 1gb partition. Then you'll stick in your Linux install disk (boot floppies or bootable CDROM) and create the necessary partitions on the rest of the drive. Again, use LILO as your boot loader and choose to boot from Linux or Windows.

That pretty well covers it; keep us updated on your progress or if you have any other questions. Luck!

[forrest]

just a note, my debian installs are regularly very small. x and everything. i fit all my laptop installs in under 500 megs. my current one is only 400 megs. as long as you only get what you need. 700 megs is fine.

[bdl]

This is very true, forrest, and something I neglected to mention, both Slack and Debian offer relatively small, clean installs compared to the other guys. Point well taken. You wouldnt necessarily have to make a 3 gb EXT2 partition for your linux install, but it never hurts for expansion's sake.